THE MYSTERIES OF RESEARCH!

ByLisa Wallin

Ashland Middle SchoolAshland, KY

Lisa Wallin

• B.A. Middle School (MSU) • M.A. Reading Specialist (MSU) • M.A. Library Media Specialist (MU) • 21 Years in the Classroom 7/8th

Grades

timelineDays 1 – 7 – Front Loading; Works Cited; Instruction; PracticeDays 8 – 10 – In class research using print and computersApprox. 2 Weeks LaterDays 11 & 12 - Presentation

Front Loading: Journal Topics: • What is plagiarism?• Why do writers need a

Works Cited page? • What is something I’d

like to know more about?

Parent Letter: See attached sample

Bellringers/Worksheets

• Crop Circles• The Bermuda Triangle• Loch Ness Monster• Area 51• Stone Henge• Nostradomus• Roswell,NM

(edhelper.com)• Website Evaluation

Activity• Notetaking Activity

Works Cited Sample

Works Cited Rules

Works Cited Practice

Guest Speaker vs. Field Trip

Getting Started …*Each student receives three (3) index

cards; preferably the large ones*Each student draws a random topic (see

sample list attached) Aids John AdamsWhales Mental IllnessUranus VikingsHolocaust EarthquakesTelepathy Ellis IslandInsects Lewis & ClarkBurma Charles DarwinOwls Salem Witch TrialsFootball Tutankamen

MY SAMPLE CARDS

Index Card Samples

The Bermuda TriangleSample Powerpoint

Unexplained Phenomenon

• Slender Man• Big Foot• Loch Ness• Zombies• Ghosts• Moth Man• Vampires• Aliens• Area 54

• Alien Abductions• Lost City of Atlantis• Ghosts of Gettysburg• Fairies• Werewolves• The Illuminati• Nazi Bell• Russian Sleep

Experiment

Student-Generated Rubric

Presentations

Lesson Plans Continued:

Day 3 Bellringer – Journal – What is something I’d like to know more about? Evaluating Websites activity/PowerPointSample Index Card for Internet / WikipediaStudents use the Internet /Wikipedia to create an entry on their third card for their topic After receiving a checkmark, students then write a minimum of five facts on the back of the their card using the information from Wikipedia Day 4 Bellringer – Works Cited Quiz / Corrections Using the sample Index Cards, demonstrate how to put them in alphabetical order to create a Works Cited pageStudents are then to use their cards and make a separate Works Cited pageUsing the notes on the back of their cards, students are to write a well-developed paragraph about their topicTake up cards, Works Cited page, and paragraph

Lesson Plans Continued:Day 5 Bellringer – Stonehenge – Fact Vs. FictionThe Bermuda Triangle PowerPoint demonstrating the product they will be creating, discussing the characteristics of itParent Letter explaining requirements and due date (due date should be approximately two weeks following the last day you allow them to research in class)Brainstorm a list of possible Unexplained Phenomenon TopicsDay 6Bellringer – Roswell – Point of ViewContinue brainstorming list of possible Unexplained Phenomenon TopicsDiscuss how is final product going to be gradedBrainstorm minimum / maximum requirementsWhat makes a good PowerPoint? Create scoring rubric based on class recommendationsDay 7 Bellringer – The Bermuda Triangle – Main Idea & DetailsWorks Cited Scavenger Hunt for ReviewGive students copy of Rubric to use creating PowerPointThink/Pair/Share potential topics and discuss in large groupBegin researching using Index Cards: citation on front; notes on back(I continue to check cards throughout this process to try to prevent mistakes.)

Sample Lesson PlanDay 1 Bellringer - Journal – What is plagiarism? Discuss and sign the school’s Plagiarism PledgeIntroduce/Overview Unexplained Phenomenon UnitCopy ‘I Can” statements into journalWorks Cited Handout(s) (Journal) Sample Index Card for book/print entryStudents receive three index cards and draw random topicsStudents use the book on their topic to create an entry on their cardAfter receiving a check mark, students then write a minimum of five facts on the back of their card from their bookDay 2 Bellringer – Journal – Why do writers need a Works Cited page? Review Works Cited handout and book/print card from yesterdaySample Index Card for encyclopedia entry Students use the encyclopedia on their topic to create an entry on their second card for their topic After receiving a checkmark, students then write a minimum of five facts on the back of the their card from their encyclopedia

Lesson Plans Continued:Day 8 Bellringer – Crop Circles – SummarizingStudents continue researching their topic (I continue checking their cards)Day 9 Bellringer – Journal – The topic I chose is , because Students continue researching their topic (I continue checking their cards)Days 10 & 11PowerPoint Presentations

Suggestions?

Questions???